The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was actually developed in America.He is one of the few breeds that can be truly considered an “American Dog”. The breed originated in The Chesapeake Bay territory using the Newfoundland and the labrador retriever and indigenous dogs in the area, he was bred to swim and retrieve the downed birds, in the icy coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean. This dog has a tremendously powerful swimming ability and it was not uncommon in the early days of hunting for one retriever to bring back fifty or more birds to his master. The dogs were taken along in the duck boats and would retrieve out of the boat and bring the bird back to the boat. They are of course adaptable as well to land retrieval.
His coat is tight and curly and water resistant. He comes in several colors, “dead grass” (resembles the color of dead grass), deep brown, and pale yellow. The dense undercoat protects him well from the elements and he is not uncomfortable in icy winds and icy sea water. He is highly intelligent and although strong willed, is not stubborn. In other words, if you are his friend and his master, he will do anything for you. But he does need a strong master as well, since his hunting instincts are strong and may take over when he is in the great outdoors.
The Chesapeake is a strong willed somewhat independent dog but with the right upbringing and socialization he can be an extremely loyal and gentle family pet. He is good with his own children in the family but probably needs watching around strangers until he is introduced. However, this is a dog bred for the outdoors. He is a good kennel dog or country dog, needing lots of exercise and being naturally weather resistant he is not considered to be a “city dog”.
There is no doubt that the Chessie, as he is often called, is a dog that any serious hunter would love to work with. His hunting and retrieving abilities are legendary. But as a family dog he also excels. Just remember that he must be trained, as any dog, when he is young and eager to learn. obedience classes are good for any breed. The retrieving and hunting abilities can also be fine tuned with training, although many Chessies are instinctive at wanting to retrieve.
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